gjm

This is Arild Martinsen's 4x4 M3 from 1988 in action. Well, it started life as an M3, and then received an X-trac transplant - hence the 4-bolt rims. The engine is M10-derived... Whether that means it is the original S14 or even an M12, I don't know. It does have a heffin' great turbocharger bolted to it, helping make 700bhp. It's safe to say it goes a bit. https://youtu.be/5g8eoT0M2sI

Today I'm not ding anything to the 320d. I've taken it to a Very Nice Man to have the front wheel bearings replaced. It's a job I'm sure I could do, but it's also one of those (or so I'm told) jobs that either go well, or are an absolute... 'devil' to sort. I really didn't want to get a hub mostly to pieces and find I couldn't quite get the last bits sorted, leaving a car in bits and off the road.

E46 Touring towbars are a little like rocking horse droppings - I have a receipt for one which was fitted to our car, but it's not there now! If you can wait (and wait) you may find one but the quick route is to go to Bestbars or a similar outfit. You can buy one through BMW NZ, but even those are made locally.

I like them. Simple, reliable, good fun. And there are zillions around, so parts are easy. Not so much fun when the roof leaks, it steams up when it's damp, and the heater stops working.

A red Baur 2002 in the Westpac/Kreem carpark in Penrose around 11.30 today. I would have taken a pic but it was persisting down!

Apologies - I was speed reading through. I saw 'dipsticks gone', moved to next post and responded to what you'd said. Of course, if I'd read through the whole of your first post... Oh well. It's been a sh*t week, and a sh*t start to the year. To give you an idea, our cat didn't die when it was run over. That's about the high point so far.

O...K... I'm happy to be corrected, but please don't leave me hanging!

When doing our car, I check for gearbox capacity and initially half fill (or thereabouts). Replace the fill plug, start the engine, cycle the gearshift a few times (you may see the gearbox warning light), then switch off the engine. Add fluid to ~75% capacity and repeat. Then add fluid 'til it starts to overflow. You'll have used less than quoted capacity as there will likely have been fluid in the lines and cooler. Take it for a drive and check.

Yes it is, and yes it is. If overfilled, at best it'll overflow. Does your car have a auto trans dipstick?

It always does, and you always do. At least, that's my experience. I do know people who sail through stuff like this on their own, though. Looks as though you've really gone to town. Good stuff.

I've only used OEM on our car, and they've only been changed once in (very nearly) 500000km.The only bush I'd seriously considered replacing with a poly(urethane)bush is the rear mount for the front lower control arms. These are known to wear quickly. I've used polybushes on many other cars, road and track. Only ever had problems when they were the wrong size or not greased correctly. I've never used Polyflex - I assume you're referring to the brand/manufacturer? I'd not heard of them failing, but anything is possible.

Mercedes did an S65 (V12, twin-turbo) 10 years ago. It'd blow the doors off the contemporary 911 turbo, and pretty much everything else around at the time.

I genuinely mistook where this engine was going and read it as being destined for an E30...

For street use I'd advise against solid bushes. Great for the track, but that's about it. Uprated bushes will transmit more road vibration into the car... Perhaps not enough to matter but that's a personal taste thing. Poly bushes - yes, but perhaps stay with stock or marginally increased hardness. Poly bushes won't wear as quickly as stock rubber.

More right hand lane hogs. I'll confess to having been in a bit of a (very calm) hurry today, but FFS - 85 in the right hand lane with nothing on the inside ought to be a punishable offence. I flashed my lights at one car and got the finger from the passenger... He had one bare foot hanging out of the window, and the other on the dash while his female driver looked scared. And if you pass on the inside, you're obviously a raving looney speed freak who shouldn't have a license. Couldn't I see the lorry in the inside lane up ahead? Actually, no I couldn't. It had already gone round the corner 800m up the road!

Thanks. I have his phone number here... May have used his services for a repair at some point. And then completely forgotten what he does! Thanks for the reminder.

Have you seen the news? Obviously the Top Gear production team have been reading my posts here as the confirmed (until another change) line-up is: Chris Evans - commander in chief. He's ginger. He has to be in charge. In no particular order, other presenters are: Sabine, Chris, Eddie, Matt, Stig, and... Rory Reid. Rory Reid? Similar background to Chris Harris. Not typically seen on mainstream TV, but has a reasonable presence on the internet in a number of web-presented car-related programs.

Maybe we'll stick with our old 320d. That's about 6.1.

This'd be nice. For what it is, it doesn't look overpriced, either. http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=1032181097

I'll drop you a PM in the morning once I'm more awake. Thanks.

Bonnet up, one paw on the bumper, pointing out the shortcomings in my engineering performance...

Thanks Ron. It's not an affliction in our case - just a need so Miss M can do her photography homework. Any news on a potential Tauranga/Tron visit?

This certainly does:

In the UK, there's (among others) Grays of Westminster who sell new and used cameras and lenses, and everything else you could possibly need. Is there anywhere in NZ that does a similar thing? Searching hasn't helped me so far... Specifically, I'm looking for Nikon Nikkor DX lenses.

Books. I like books.